The Flame Amidst the Intoxication

Candlelight flickered upon the altar, mingling with the faint scent of sandalwood incense in the damp night air. Beyond the walls, the city of Shravasti had fallen into deep sleep, yet in a small corner of a house, lively chatter continued unabated. Several women sat huddled together, their faces flushed pink and their eyes unfocused. A bottle of wine lay hidden beneath the table, while small cups were filled hastily one after another.

Visakha, renowned as the wealthiest and most devout woman in Shravasti, looked at her companions with a heart full of worry. She knew each of them well. They were all gentle wives and capable mothers, but when had they become so addicted? The story began during festivals year after year, where husbands indulged in drinking, and wives poured wine to please them, hoping for affection and harmony. Day after day, they poured with sincere hearts, wishing their husbands happiness. Unexpectedly, cause and effect (karmic law) turned back upon themselves. Suddenly, the women also craved alcohol, wanting just a sip for warmth. From that single sip, they became addicted without realizing it.

"Please, sisters, if you drink any more, you will be drunk!" Visakha gently tried to dissuade them, but she was met only with raucous laughter.

"Oh, you worry too much. Just a little for fun. If our husbands can drink all day, why can't we?" replied Vakaha, slurring her words, still raising her cup to her lips.

Visakha sighed deeply. She sensed that trouble was approaching. Indeed, the next day, when she invited nearly a hundred friends to the monastery to listen to the Buddha's dharma talk, the women secretly hid wine in their clothes and cloth bags. Their husbands, hearing that their wives were going with Visakha, happily allowed them to go without suspicion. However, upon arriving at the monastery, while waiting to meet the Buddha, the women gathered in groups and took out their wine to continue drinking. By the time the Buddha emerged to teach, they were completely intoxicated.

The Buddha sat upon his lotus throne, his compassionate gaze resting upon the assembly. He began to teach about impermanence (anicca), about the fires burning through life. But amidst this, a rough voice rang out.

"Hey there, what are you saying? I cannot hear clearly! Let me speak instead!"

Vakaha stood up abruptly, her face bright red and her eyes glazed over. She began to babble rapidly, interrupting the Buddha's words. Then she sang, humming loudly within the solemn sanctuary. Bored with singing, she started to dance. She spun wildly, her garments slipping and exposing her body. The other intoxicated women rose to join her, filling the space with chaotic laughter and insults. Some even pointed fingers at the Sangha, speaking vulgar and slanderous words.

Visakha stood nearby, her heart tightening as tears rolled down her cheeks. She could not believe the scene before her. Where were her gentle friends? Why had they transformed into such mad beings? She understood that Mara had entered their minds. Due to the slight vulnerability caused by intoxication, Mara seized the opportunity, stirring up latent negative habits within them and turning them into tools to disrupt the dharma assembly.

The Buddha remained seated, his tolerant eyes observing the chaos. He knew it was time to use his spiritual power. From the white hair between his eyebrows, a radiant beam of light shot forth, illuminating heaven and earth. The entire space suddenly darkened, then burst into blinding brilliance. The Buddha slowly ascended into the void, his aura spreading throughout the Three Thousand Great Chiliocosm World, accompanied by thunderous echoes. This majestic sight struck fear into everyone present. The drunken women felt as if cold water had been poured over them; their intoxication vanished, and their minds returned to clarity. Seeing he could no longer cause destruction, Mara retreated.

Once the women were fully sober, the Buddha slowly descended and resumed his seat. He looked at them with eyes full of compassion and spoke:

"What joy is there in a life consumed by fire? Darkness covers everything; why do you not seek the lamp?"

Vakaha bowed her head, tears falling heavily. She prostrated herself, choking with emotion as she said, "World-Honored One, I apologize. I have erred. Alcohol indeed gives rise to much evil in the world."

From that day on, none of the women dared to touch alcohol again. They understood that intoxication not only harms the body but also opens the door for Mara to invade, dragging them into the abyss of evil deeds. Together, they sought the lamp of the Dharma, illuminating their path of practice.

The Meaning of the Story

Alcohol itself is not inherently evil, but it stirs up latent negative habits within the mind, making people prone to wrongdoing and vulnerable to exploitation by Mara and negative forces. Human life is being burned daily by the fire of impermanence (anicca). If we remain lost in intoxication, we lose the opportunity to find the lamp of wisdom and escape the darkness of suffering (dukkha).

Compiled from the dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang